Adjusting device for box-covers.



W. H. LUTZ.

ADIUSTING DEVI CE FORBOX COVERS.

APPLICATION HLD .MN. 15.1913.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

INVENTOR 2&2.

WITNESSES 9 jawm MMIQ ATTDR WILLIAM H. LUTZ, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTING DEVICE BOX-COVERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filedJ'anuary 15, 1913. Serial No. 742,141.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM H. LUTz, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and use ful Adjusting Device for Box-Covers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to boxes provided with covers which areadapted to be either adjusted axially or angularly with respect to thebody of the box in order to aline with an external surface in closeproximity to said box, and the invention relates more particularly toconduit boxes for electric wiring systems wherein the terminals of acircuit are joined, or wherein the terminals are conducted to form aplace of attachment for a local or auxiliary circuit. Such conduit boxesare generally classed in the trade as outlet boxes, junction boxes,recepta'cle boxes, or floor boxes and are adapted to be used in anydesired location, though generally for interior work they are positionedin the floor, the walls or the ceiling of a room and serve the purposeof bringing the current to the place where the connection for thefixture isto be made.

In boxes of the character above referred to, it" has been foundin'practice thatit is practically impossible to secure the body of thebox in the wall, ceiling or floor or in whatever desired location, insuch a manner that when the cover is fastened in place, it will aline orlie in the same plane as an external surface in close proximity to thebox. It-is extremely desirable in this class of work that the cover ofthe box should be normally seated flush with the surface of the materialadjacent the box, not only to present a neat and sightly appearance, butalso to insure the fixture being held normal to the surface instead ofat an angle.

It has heretofore been proposed to utilize for the present purpose acover which may be adjusted axially of the box and also angularly withrespect thereto but the mechanical-means for attaining this end havebeen of such a complicated and unsatisfactory nature, that it has beenfound in practice, the mechanisms s0 employed are not commercially ofsuch a nature as to carry out the functions either satisfactorily oreconomically.

By my present invention, I have overcome the defects inherent in boxesof this character and have provided a simple and effective constructionconsisting of but few parts and adapted to permit independent ad ustmentof the cover as regards axial or angular movement, the said adjustmentsbeing readily made when the box and cover are assembled in operativeposition.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as willbe hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawmgs a preferred embodiment which is at presentpreferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to givesatisfactory an'dreliable results, although it is to be understood thatthe various instrumentalities of which'my invention consists can bevariously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited tothe precise arrangement and organization of thesei'nstrumentalities asherein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a'plan of a box embodying my invention showing thecover secured thereto. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section on line wmofFig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a plan of a ring forming a part of the boxcover- Fig. 4e represents'a section on line g g of'Fig. 3. Fig. 5representsa plan of an adjusting ring used in connection with thedevice; Fig. 6 represents a section on line z.2 of Fig. 5.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the body of a box whichis'preferably closed at the sides and bottom and open at its top, thoughit'will be noted in some instances of use, an aperture or apertures 2are provided at suitable points in the sides in order" to conductconduit wires or pipes to'the interior of the box. In the presentinstance, the body 1 is disclosed of octagonal shape, though of courseitwill be understood that the same may be of any suitable contour forthe purpose intended, and 3 designates lugs preferably formed integralwith the body 1 and projecting laterally and interiorly'thereof to formsupports for any desired fittings,

which may be used with the said box.

t designates an annulus preferably having screw-threaded engagementasshow'n at 5 with the body 1 and in the preferred constructionythe boxis internally threaded to receive'the said annulus 4, though I do notwish to be limited to this exact construction as it is obvious anequivalent therefor can readily be arranged by any skilled mechanic.

By means of the foregoing construction, it will readily be seen that theannulus 4 may be moved axially with respect to the body 1, and thus varythe distance between the cover and the said body to bring the cover intothe plane of an adjacent surface, since as will presently appear, thecover is here shown as supported by the annulus 4.

6 designates a ring carried by the annulus 4 and maintained in thepresent instance, from lateral displacement through the medium of aflange 7 formed circumferentially on the annulus 4 and substantiallyencircling the ring 6, which is thus maintained in proper alinement, theopening 8 therein allowing free access to the interior of the body 1.This ring 6 is preferably provided at suitable intervals with inwardlyprojecting lugs 9 which serve as a means for causing the ring 6 to beturned or partially rotated as desired after the parts are in assembledcondition, it being noted that the axis of rotation of said ring issubstantially coincident with or parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe body 1. As here shown, one surface of the ring 6 is beveled, orlaterally tapered uniformly, as shown at 10, to form a cam surface whichextends preferably transversely of the ring 6 and is adapted to form aseat for a similar beveled or cam surface 11 of the cover supportingannular member 12, this latter being detachably secured to the annulus 4by means of screws 13, or like fastening devices, which pass throughsuitable apertured lugs 14 of the member 12 and into threaded lugs 15 ofthe annulus 4. \Vhen these screws 13 are properly tightened with all theparts in adjusted position, the ring 6 will be fixedly clamped betweenthe annulus 4 and the member 12.

16 designates a box cover, which in the present instance, seats within acircumferential flange 17 of the member 12 and is thereby not onlyprevented from lateral movement, but forms a joint 18 which may easilybe protected from dampness and water by utilizing a packing washer 19between the parts, which are secured together by suitable fasteningscrews 20. In the present embodiment of the cover 16, I have provided acentral opening 21 adapted to be closed by a supplemental cover 22,having screw threaded engagement with the main cover and clamping apacking ring 23 against the flange 24 of the main cover 16. Thesupplemental cover 22 is also centrally apertured and normally closed bya screw threaded plug 25 as will be apparent, this latter being readilyremoved to permit the passage of conductors while the supplemental cover22 may be removed, if desired, for the insertion of connecting plugs orthe like.

In practice, the body 1 of the box is suitably placed and fixed inposition in any suitable location such as the wall, ceiling or iloor ofa building and the terminals or conductors led to the interior thereof,the body then being closed by the cover mechanism until such time as thesurface of the support is completed. At that time it is necessary inorder to make a neat and finished appearance, to adjust the cover sothat it is flush with the aforesaid surface. This is done by firstadjusting the cover axially with respect to the body 1 until it issubstantially in the same plane with the surface relative to which thecover is to be adj usted. Having attained this adjustment, it is now asimple matter to bring the cover to the proper angle with respect to thebody in order that it will lie flush with the surface. This isaccomplished by inserting a suitable implement through the annularmember 12 into engagement with the lugs 9 and thus cause the ring 6 tobe partially rotated or turned so as to change the position of thebeveled or cam surface 10, which, of course, varies the inclination ofthe cover so that the latter may be accurately adjusted flush with thesurface. This adjustment having been attained, the screws 13 aretightened to fix the parts relative to each other and the cover may thenbe secured in position, as already explained.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed in the patents Stahley,#689,139, Dec. 17, 1901, to Krantz, #856,165, June 4, 1907, to-Fullman,#699,381, May 6th, 1902, and to Fountain, #974,370, Nov. 1st, 1910, toemploy a box body the cover of which may be adjusted both axially andangularly with respect to the body but these devices comprise many partsdependent upon complicated details of construction to effect properoperation. It is desirable in the commercial manufacture and practicaluse of devices of this character, that the parts be made simple andstrong and constructed in such a manner that they may be readilyoperated by unskilled labor without undue manipulation of a multiplicityof parts. My present invention is clearly differentiated from theforegoing patented devices, as will be apparent to those skilled in theart, since the angular adjustment of the cover is effected through themedium of two coacting beveled or cam surfaces which are supportedbetween the body and the cover and give a wide range of angular movementand effect the same in a positive and direct manner.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a complete unitarystructure, simple in construction, effective in operation and by meansof which a cover may readily and easily be brought into the plane of aparticular surface while its operative relation to the box body is notdisturbed.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and usefulconstruction of adjusting devices for box covers which embodies thefeatures of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of theinvention and the above description, and while I have, in the presentinstance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which hasbeenifound in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it isto be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in variousparticulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionor sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a box body,an annulus mounted thereon for adjustment axially of said body, a ringcarried by said annulus having a cam face at one side, a cover, asupport for said cover having a cam face seating on said ring cam face,one of said cam face carrying members being adapted for rotary movementwith respect to the other to efiect angular adjustment of said coverwith respect to said body, and means connecting said support and annulusfor clamping said movable member in adjusted position.

2. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a box body,an annulus mounted thereon for adjustment axially of said body, a ringcarried by said annulus having a cam face at one side, a cover, asupport for said cover having a cam face seating on said ring cam face,one of said cam face carrying members being adapted for rotary movementwith respect to the other to efiect angular adjustment of said coverwith respect to said body, means connecting said support and annulus forclamping said movable member in adjusted position, and means to preventlateral movement of said ring with respect to said annulus.

WILLIAM H. LUTZ.

Witnesses:

ROBERT M. BARR, O. D. MoVAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

